Water from the Three Springs Water Treatment Plant in McGaheysville, Va., was ranked Top 5 in the nation at the recent Great American Water Taste Test in Washington, D.C.

The contest was managed by the National Rural Water Association as part of its yearly Rural Water Rally. Participants had to win both state and national competitions to be represented at the final judging panel.

Clarity, bouquet and taste were the selection criteria, with judges focusing on water samples that had no taste, no smell and perfect clarity.

The Three Springs Water Treatment Plant is located in Virginia’s picturesque Shenandoah Valley. The water quality is naturally pure as plant manager Luke Hornick stated, “We add fluorine and chlorine, but the water is of such purity that nothing else is needed.”

High water quality is important not just for individual consumption, but it also drives business decisions. Food processing and brewing companies require large amounts of high quality water, making Virginia a preferred location for those industries.

According to Rockingham County director of Community Development William Vaughn, “It’s one of the primary reasons that Coors — now MillerCoors — established East Coast operations here 25 years ago.”

Concerns over water quality and availability are receiving increased attention across the globe, making Virginia’s infrastructure resources a valuable asset for companies located in the Commonwealth. To learn more about Virginia’s world-class capabilities serving the food and beverage industry click here.

On Monday, GSI Commerce announced plans to expand its fulfillment capabilities in Henry County, bringing 60 new jobs and a $1.5 million investment to the Martinsville area of Southern Virginia.

This expansion will be used to handle the fulfillment, freight and warehouse management of the Company Kids and The Company Store brands of Hanover Direct — a new customer GSI Commerce just acquired.

Located in Martinsville, Va., since 2007, GSI Commerce has successfully grown its operations to include 1,000 full-time and seasonal workers. The expanded facility will be located near the company’s existing facilities at Bowles Industrial Park.

“GSI Commerce’s state-of-the-art fulfillment services will better facilitate the distribution of Hanover Direct’s brands and improve its clients’ customer experience. This new relationship will also ensure many jobs dedicated to Hanover Direct fulfillment services will remain within the state of Virginia,” according to the company’s press release.

The Commonwealth is a popular place for fulfillment centers with Amazon.com announcing two centers in Chesterfield and Dinwiddie counties, creating 1,350 new jobs. Backcountry.com also announced a fulfillment center in Montgomery County which is expected to create 200 new jobs.

Wytheville, Va., company Evatran is leading the way in developing an electronic vehicle (EV) wireless recharging system. Governor Bob McDonnell hosted the company’s launch event for its Apollo Program at the state capitol in Richmond, Va., last Thursday.

Google, Duke Energy, Hertz, Clemson University and the Commonwealth of Virginia have already signed on for Phase I of the Apollo Program. These partners have agreed to test the company’s wireless charging technology over the next three months and provide feedback to the company.

Evatran has been on the fast-track since June 2010 when Governor McDonnell announced the company would invest $3.5 million to establish a new manufacturing operation in Wytheville, Va., bringing 84 new jobs to the area. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Wythe County, the Joint Industrial Development Authority of Wythe County, Wytheville, Rural Retreat and Virginia’s aCorridor to successfully compete against North Carolina and Ohio for the project.

Evatran’s Plugless Power system is unique — as its name suggests it does not require the EV to be plugged in to recharge. Through inductive power transfer, the user simply has to park the vehicle over a specialized pad which uses magnetic fields to transfer energy from the pad’s coils to the receiving coils within the vehicle adapter. The energy is only converted to electricity once inside the vehicle, ensuring a safe transfer.

Evatran hopes the convenience of its technology will aid in the early adoption of EVs as a standard mode of transportation, helping to ease the global energy crisis.

As a green energy pioneer, the company illustrates the strength of Virginia’s entrepreneurs in both the technology and energy sectors. To learn more about the Commonwealth’s unique offering for technology and energy companies click here.

Insourcing, reshoring, even backshoring are all terms used to described the growing trend of previously-outsourced manufacturing jobs returning to the U.S.

What exactly is driving this trend since Asia, and specifically China, has been earmarked as the go to place for cheap labor over the last decade? The answer is simple — when it comes to goods for the U.S. market, on a total cost basis, manufacturing in China is becoming less attractive while manufacturing in the U.S. is becoming all the more so.

With increased exposure to the West, Chinese workers are demanding higher wages. According to The Boston Consulting Group’s report Made in America, Again, Chinese wages are growing 15-20 percent each year.

Labor typically represents only 7-25 percent of the cost in manufacturing a product. Other factors also moving in the U.S.’ favor include a favorable exchange rate, increased U.S. worker productivity and rising energy and land costs in China. Longer supply chains necessitate higher inventory and shipping expenses as well as pose political, intellectual property and weather related risks — all of which have become less tolerable to global manufacturers.

The combination of these factors led The Boston Consulting Group to conclude that “By sometime around 2015 — for many goods destined for North American consumers — manufacturing in some parts of the U.S. will be just as economical as manufacturing in China.”

In addition, China’s manufacturing infrastructure will increasingly be put to use to serve the local market. Its rising middle class will demand more products, absorbing a larger percentage of the goods produced in China. Given the costs and risks mentioned above, global supply chains appear to be shortening, with companies returning to the U.S. to manufacture goods closer to the end user.

Virginia’s furniture industry is a great illustration of this trend, with a number of expansions announced over the last few months. In Galax, Va., Albany Industries’ first Virginia location will create 335 new jobs and Vaughn-Bassett’s expansion of an existing factory and acquisition of an additional factory will create more than 100 jobs.

In addition, Netherlands producer Axxor Group chose Pittsylvania County for its first U.S. operation to supply honeycomb to nearby IKEA subsidiary Swedwood North America. Most recently, Laminate Technologies selected Henry County for its new Mid-Atlantic manufacturing operation, creating 30 new jobs.

Virginia’s cost-effective operating climate combined with its highly-skilled manufacturing workforce puts the Commonwealth in a prime position to capitalize on this trend. From Galax, Va., Vaughn-Bassett CEO John Bassett explained, “We are winning the battle against our Asian competition because we have the finest workforce in the world and we have the best equipped factories in the world,” as quoted by WSLS 10 News.

With 2011 manufacturing job creation up 31% and investment up 75% over last year, Virginia has already distinguished itself as a manufacturing powerhouse. To learn why Virginia’s pro-business climate and educated workforce make it a great location for manufacturing companies, click here.

While micro-loans are often associated with aiding entrepreneurs across the globe, the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority has established a program to help Virginia entrepreneurs right here in the Commonwealth.

The program is targeted towards existing Virginia businesses that will use the financing to either create new jobs or retain existing jobs. Companies must have been in operation for at least three years, as well as meet additional criteria in order to take advantage of the program.

These short-term loans will have a maximum maturity of one year with rates based off the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate. Funds can be used for financing working capital needs, fixed asset purchases, leasehold improvements or technology infrastructure.

Virginia is a great place to start and grow a business, offering entrepreneurs a variety of resources at all stages of expansion. Use these links to learn more about Virginia’s Micro-Loan Program and obtain an application.

To learn more about Virginia’s resources for early stage companies click here.

A rich tradition of cabinet and furniture makers in Southern Virginia attracted Laminate Technologies (LamTech) to the Martinsville Industrial Park in Henry County. Virginia competed successfully against North Carolina for the project, which will bring 30 new jobs and a $2 million investment to the already well-established wood product manufacturing industry in the Martinsville – Henry County region.

The Henry County location is LamTech’s first operation in the Commonwealth, strategically positioning the company near many of its customers, already thriving in the region. Home to a number of successful furniture companies, the region has established itself as a hub of American furniture manufacturing. Some of these firms, such as Basset and Stanley, were founded in Martinsville and have had a manufacturing presence in Henry County for more than 80 years.

Given the nature of wood product manufacturing, which demands the movement and storage of large pre-production and finished goods, Virginia’s world-class logistics and supply chain network provides a strategic advantage to furniture companies. With easy access to high quality lumber, the efficient East Coast transportation infrastructure and a workforce of skilled artisans, Henry County offers an ideal location for the manufacturing of hardwood and laminate furniture, cabinets and component products.

To learn more about Virginia’s growing wood products industry and why LamTech is one of more than 1,100 wood products companies located in the Commonwealth click here.

The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently initiated a Call for Information and Nominations to determine industry interest in commercial wind energy leases in federal waters off Virginia’s coast. This announcement is a significant milestone advancing Virginia’s offshore wind industry and moving the Commonwealth closer to claiming the title, “Energy Capital of the East Coast.”

Industry participants will have 45 days to respond to the Call, after which BOEM will determine whether the leasing process will be competitive or not. The Call Area was determined by the Virginia Renewable Energy Task Force in an effort to balance offshore wind development with protection of the environment and shipping interests. BOEM recently completed an environmental assessment of the area and determined that there would be “no significant impacts” in issuing these leases.

Virginia has already made significant strides in developing its offshore wind energy assets. The Commonwealth’s ideal combination of strong Class 6 winds and shallow waters that allow for the easy installation of turbines has attracted a number of players in the global supply chain.

Last October, Virginia’s Northampton County was selected as the site for Poseidon Atlantic, the first comprehensive testing and certification facility for both offshore and land-based wind turbines in the U.S. Poseidon Atlantic recently installed its first Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) monitoring position in Northampton County. The LIDAR system is about the size of an air conditioner and uses laser technology to measure wind speed, direction, frequency and strength. This project will be uniquely able to test and certify the entire wind turbine (as opposed to testing component parts).

In addition, Gamesa Technology Corp. and Newport News Shipbuilding, a unit of Huntington Ingalls Industries, have launched the Gamesa Offshore Wind Technology Center in Chesapeake, Va. The center has made significant strides in developing an offshore testing facility in the Chesapeake Bay, off the Eastern Shore. The test site has been identified and submarine testing of the ocean floor has begun. The test site is expected to be complete in late 2012 to early 2013.

To learn more about Virginia’s energy assets and why more than 380 energy companies have established operations in the Commonwealth, click here.

Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade for Rural Economic Development Mary Rae Carter joined state and local officials to celebrate the opening of the Noblis Center for Applied High Performance Computing (CAHPC) in Danville, Va., last Friday. CAHPC is home to the Cray XMT2, the latest generation XMT and the only XMT supercomputer in the U.S. outside of a federal or academic setting.

Taking the power of High Performance Computing (HPC) out of the lab, CAHPC will allow companies convenient access to a supercomputer to solve advanced, real-world problems involving large amounts of data. This access to a supercomputer is unprecedented outside of federal or academic setting and removes the cost barrier to entry for smaller Virginia businesses.

Initially announced in June 2011, one of the goals of this project is to build on the success of Danville’s burgeoning River District by attracting additional high-tech companies. Located on the Dan River, the area’s historic buildings are being renovated and quickly becoming a hub for technology companies. Luna Nanoworks, Lifebatt, Infinity Global Packaging and Horizontech have already invested in the area.

While Northern Virginia is certainly an impressive IT hub, Danville’s location in Southside Virginia illustrates the expansiveness of Virginia’s high-tech capabilities throughout the Commonwealth. Virginia has the highest concentration of high-tech companies as well as the highest concentration of high-tech workers according to Enterprising States 2011: Recovery and Renewal for the 21st Century prepared by Praxis Strategy Group and Cyberstates 2011, respectively.

To learn more about Virginia’s world-class technology capabilities and why high-tech companies have invested more than $9 billion in Virginia over the last ten years, click here.

If you receive a bouquet this Valentine’s Day, it may contain flowers flown in from Ethiopia. Ethiopian Airlines delivered its first shipment, nearly two tons of Hypericum flowers, to Washington Dulles International Airport in January, and continues to deliver this amount on a weekly basis.

Arriving in perfect condition from Addis Ababa, this shipment of the Hypericum Coco variety was grown by Sun Kissed Flowers on the highlands of Ethiopia in East Africa. Ethiopia’s elevation, soil quality and weather conditions are perfect for slow-growing flowers, making some of the highest quality Hypericums in the world. A popular filler flower used to complement bouquets, the Hypericum’s signature berries resemble the coffee bean, one of Ethiopia’s better known exports.

While flowers may not be top of mind when Westerners think about Ethiopia, the country’s horticulture industry is on the rise. Also a global leader in producing a wide variety of roses and carnations, EthiopianFlowerExport.com reported the country exported 450 million cut flowers in the first quarter of fiscal 2011, with expectations to generate $530 million in revenues by 2014.

This milestone is part of the transformation taking place among commercial air carriers. Faced with rising operating costs, carriers are trying to squeeze every possible dollar to hold margins steady — hence the air cargo industry has taken off. (For additional information on the air cargo industry see our November blog.)

When it comes to delivering perishable cargo, such as flowers, Virginia’s logistics network is world-class. Dulles’ central East Coast location is within a day’s reach of more than 50 percent of the U.S. market. With a catchment area that covers 25 states and parts of Canada, as well as a dedicated access road to I-95, Dulles’ ability to save valuable time and spoilage costs has made it a sought-after import/export location.

More than 240 companies have set up distribution centers in the Commonwealth and companies shipping perishable goods, such as flowers, food and pharmaceuticals, are discovering the benefits of Virginia’s premier air cargo industry. To learn more Virginia’s world-class logistics capabilities click here.

While it’s always exciting when a new company opens its first operation in the Commonwealth, VEDP is just as enthusiastic when a long-standing Virginia company chooses to expand its operations here. That’s just what happened when Honeywell announced its plans to expand its Advanced Fibers and Composites (AF&C) operation in Chesterfield County through an investment of $27.5 million, which will create 50 new jobs.

Honeywell began operating in Virginia back in 1928 and this 80-plus year history has resulted in 17 facilities across the Commonwealth that employ 1,800 Virginians. Continued expansion and investment in Virginia confirms the company’s positive experience in the Commonwealth, allowing Virginia to beat out North Carolina and South Carolina for this project.

Honeywell’s AF&C business manufactures the lightest and strongest polyethylene fiber in the world. Its life-saving technology is used in applications to protect military and police officers where lightweight strength is critical. Bullet-resistant vests, breast plates, helmets, combat vehicles and military aircraft are just a few applications for AF&C’s world-class polyethylene fiber.

Virginia’s appeal to the plastics and advanced materials industry spans numerous subsectors including fiber and film manufacturing, blow molding, injection molding, pipe manufacturing, thermoforming and equipment manufacturing. With recent announcements from the likes of DuPont, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Tessy Plastics, O’Sullivan Films and Phoenix Packaging, Virginia has made its mark as an ideal location for plastics and advanced materials companies. To learn more click here.

Advance Auto Parts recently announced its plans to establish a Financial Services Commercial Customer Care Center at its corporate headquarters location in Roanoke, Va. Located at the Crossroads Corporate Business Center, this project will bring an $8 million investment and 75 new jobs to Roanoke over the next three years.

Historically catering to the do-it-yourself market, Advance Auto Parts has expanded its customer base to include commercial customers. This project will allow the company to enhance its customer service to this market, bringing the management of the entire commercial credit experience under one roof.

Commencing operations in Roanoke 80 years ago, Advance Auto Parts has successfully grown its operations in the Commonwealth from a small, family-run business to a Fortune 500 Company. CEO Darren R. Jackson recently rang the bell at the NYSE to celebrate the company’s 10-year anniversary as a publicly-traded company.

The company’s commitment to Virginia and the Roanoke region is expressed by CEO Darren R. Jackson, “Over the last few years, we have invested over $10 million in our Store Support Center in Roanoke in our effort to expand and improve our facilities. This new team will be part of our over 1,600 Team Member base in Roanoke and is an integral part of our goal to grow Advance through service and reflects our longstanding commitment to the growth and development of the Roanoke Valley.”

Virginia is home to 70 corporate headquarters of companies exceeding $500 million in revenue. To learn why leading companies, like Advance Auto Parts, call Virginia home, click here.

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About VEDP

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP), a state authority created by the Virginia General Assembly to better serve those seeking a prime business location and increased trade opportunities, provides confidential site selection and international trade services. VEDP's mission: To enhance the quality of life and raise the standard of living for all Virginians, in collaboration with Virginia communities, through aggressive business recruitment, expansion assistance, and trade development, thereby expanding the tax base and creating higher-income employment opportunities.